Jordan: REACH Assessment Officer Jordan
Country: Jordan
Closing date: 15 Oct 2013
Department: Programme
Position: REACH Assessment OfficerContract duration: 6 months Location: Jordan
Starting Date: ASAP
I. Background on ACTED
ACTED is an independent international, private, non-partisan and non-profit organization that operates according to principles of strict neutrality, political and religious impartiality, and non discrimination.
ACTED was created in 1993 to support populations affected by the conflict in Afghanistan. Based in Paris, France, ACTED now operates in 30 countries worldwide, with over 200 international and 3000 national staff. ACTED has a 100 million € budget for over 350 projects spanning 8 sectors of intervention; including emergency relief, food security, health promotion, economic development, education & training, microfinance, local governance & institutional support, and cultural promotion. For more information, please visit our website at www.acted.org
II. Country Profile
Capital Office : AmmanNational Staff : 25 (July 2012)International Staff : 6 (July 2012)Areas : 1 (North of West Bank)On-going programmes: 2Bugdet : 1.6 M€ (2011)
REACH was born in 2010 as a joint initiative of two INGOs (IMPACT Initiatives and ACTED) and the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) Operational Satellite Applications Programme (UNOSAT). REACH’s purpose is to promote and facilitate the development of information products that enhance the humanitarian community’s decision making and planning capacity for emergency, reconstruction and development contexts, supporting and working within the framework of the humanitarian reform process. REACH facilitates information management for aid actors through three complementary services: (a) need and situation assessments facilitated by REACH teams; (b) situation analysis using satellite imagery; (c) provision of related database and (web)-mapping facilities and expertise.
CONTEXT / COUNTRY
The Syrian Refugee Crisis has had an extraordinary impact on the country of Jordan, where over half a million refugees have sought refuge in host communities and refugee camps. A large number of humanitarian actors have responded to the needs, resulting in an increasing need for coordination, information management, and evidence based and targeted interventions. REACH in Jordan is the regional office providing support to the Syrian Refugee Crisis, as well as implementing Jordan country programs. Since 2012, REACH has been supporting information management activities in both the refugee camps (particularly Za’atari, a camp with 120,000 refugees) and host communities. The program aims to support more effective humanitarian action through the working groups and coordination mechanisms, being a partner of UN, donors, and other groups.
III. Position Profile
Under the supervision of the REACH Regional Assessment Manager and indirectly of the ACTED Country Director and IMPACT HQ in Geneva, the REACH Assessment Officer is responsible for the management and implementation of REACH assessments in the refugee camps including their preparation, implementation and follow-up. This will include supporting the sectors in the camps identify their information needs, and support the data collection and thematic analysis of their needs (e.g. WASH, education, health, protection, livelihoods, etc). The emphasis initially will be on Za’atari refugee camp with a population of 120,000, and once open Azraq refugee camp. He/she will also be responsible for related logistics, partner coordination, reporting and finance requirements and will be required to provide input to the strategic development of REACH in country and region, if relevant.
Summary
The REACH Assessment Officer shall be responsible for:• In coordination with Country Director and REACH Regional Managers), design and implement REACH assessment strategy and methodology within the refugee camps;• Management of REACH assessment field staff to ensure a smooth and timely implementation of activities;• Ensuring that assessment strategies are implemented in a structured and coherent manner in line with project and strategic objectives;• Coordinate and ensure timely data collection, analysis and, in partnership with GIS/DB team, mapping of datasets, ensure that all collected data are geo-referenced; • Works closely with GIS/SB team in country. • Ensure the writing of timely and accurate assessment reports and factsheets;• Keep track of all projects and programmes assessment schedules and work with field staff to design and implement REACH assessment procedures;• Supporting the development/revision of assessment / programme strategies, reports or new proposals;• Liaising with programme staff of other ACTED departments to ensure close coordination and information sharing is maintained;• In coordination with REACH Regional Managers, external representation of REACH with Donors, Partners and the wider Aid Community through clusters and sectoral working groups;• Coordinate timely and accurate reporting to IMPACT Headquarter.
- REACH Assessment Management and Coordination
- Objective 2.1: Management of assessments processThe REACH Assessment Officer is responsible for designing the methodology and tools associated with each assessment, according to REACH requirements and principles. He/she will manage the planning, implementation, and follow-up of all REACH and projects specific assessment activities conducted in country. In operations in which REACH is a project component of a wider ACTED intervention, the REACH Assessment Officer is required to contribute to the preparation and follow up of the Project Management Framework and ensure that activities are properly coordinated and implemented as per the Project Cycle Management.
The REACH Assessment Officer shall manage logistics, financial, administration and HR processes directly related to REACH and liaise accordingly with the relevant ACTED counterpart. He/she is directly responsible for the implementation of proper ACTED FLAT procedures in all REACH interventions.
Objective 2.2: ImplementationThe REACH Assessment Officer is responsible for contributing to the implementation of assessment projects, providing support to the development of assessment, database and GIS tools with the REACH team. This will specifically include, with the GIS/DB team, designing of data collection tools (household surveys, focus groups, and more); development or review of databases; contributing to GIS data collection procedures and mapping thereof through ARC GIS and other ESRI products in particular; and analysis of spatial and other information to contribute to reports and the like.
Objective 2.3: CoordinationThe REACH Assessment Officer shall provide technical support to the relevant ACTED department in terms of the preparation of new project proposals, development of programme strategies, implementation of project activities, and any other required REACH input to ACTED projects for added-value.
The REACH Assessment Officer is responsible for the timely and accurate preparation of narrative and financial reports related to REACH activities in country through close liaison with the Project Development and Finance departments.
The REACH Assessment Officer shall liaise with other REACH Officers in the region and throughout IMPACT Initiatives’ and ACTED’s networks to provide and receive support in the expansion of REACH globally.
- REACH Reporting
The REACH Assessment Officer is responsible for consolidating all analyses and conclusions from each assessment into REACH products such as factsheets, reports and briefs using standard formats. He/she will liaise with Geneva and Regional GIS/DB Specialists in order to represent data in interactive web map or static map format, as relevant.
The REACH Assessment Officer is responsible for following the designated timeline of reports to be submitted to project partners and donors. He/she must ensure the writing of timely and accurate assessment reports and factsheets, ensuring the quality and accuracy of technical information provided as well as the confidentiality and protection of collected information. He/she will ensure that assessment reports contribute to aid coordination and planning and add to the general base of field knowledge in the country for all organisations working in the areas.
He/she will also manage the drafting of narrative reports and contribute to the development of financial reports through regular budgetary follow-up.
The REACH Assessment Officer will also store, organize and disseminate assessments, project documents and best practices among ACTED and IPs. He/she will coordinate timely and accurate reporting to IMPACT Headquarter.
- REACH HR Management
Staff Management The REACH Assessment Officer is responsible for day-to-day management of project and field staff both directly and remotely. He/she is expected to guide and direct REACH staff and prepare and follow up workplans with each staff member that directly reports to him/her. The REACH Assessment Officer will be required to take the lead in the recruitment of REACH assessment staff in coordination with the ACTED HR Officer. This will include the preparation of ToRs, observation of recruitment procedures by planning recruitment needs in advance, and undertake interviews.
The REACH Assessment Officer will ensure that all field teams are comprehensively briefed on the objective, expected outputs and that the overall implementation strategy of any given activity is clearly understood. He/she will ensure that project/field staff are given training and complete all the necessary documentation in line with program requirements set by REACH.
- Representation
Representation of ACTED/REACH in cluster and multi-sector meetings/ technical working groups in country and follow up on technical issues identified in cluster meetings in other parts of the country. This specifically will include liaising with external partners to identify potential for data sets to be integrated into existing databases and mapped to support the coordination of the broader humanitarian community.
The REACH Assessment Officer will further represent ACTED/REACH vis-a-vis current and potential donors and communicate relevant information to the ACTED Project Development Manager and Country Director. He/she will participate in inter-NGO meetings and those of UN agencies and any other relevant inter-governmental institutions at the national or provincial level.
More generally, the REACH Assessment Officer is expected to contribute to the creation of a positive image and overall credibility of the organisation, notably through the application of ACTED’s mandate, ethics, values and stand-point with regard to other actors.
Accountability to Communities and BeneficiariesThe staff member is responsible for ensuring that all relations with the communities we work are conducted in a respectful and consultative manner. Due attention must be paid to ensuring that communities are adequately consulted and informed about ACTED programme objectives, activities, beneficiary selection criteria, and methodologies. This is the responsibility of every ACTED staff member.
IV. Qualifications:
- Excellent academic qualifications, including a Master degree in relevant discipline;
- Excellent analytical skills;
- At least 2 years of relevant working experience in humanitarian settings;
- Excellent communication and drafting skills for effective reporting;
- Excellent team management skills;
- Ability to operate in a cross-cultural environment requiring flexibility;
- Familiarity with the aid system, and understanding of donor and governmental requirements;
- Prior knowledge of the region an asset
- Fluency in English required
- Ability to operation Microsoft Word, Excel and Project Management Software.
- SPSS+ or other statistical programs a benefit.
- Arc GIS, OSM, or knowledge of other GIS packages a benefit. Ability to work within a team and operate in a collaborative and participatory manner.
V. Conditions:
- Salary defined by the ACTED salary grid; educational level, expertise, hardship, security, and performance are considered for pay bonus
- Additional monthly living allowance
- Free food and lodging provided at the organisation’s guesthouse/or housing allowance (depending on contract length and country of assignment)
- Transportation costs covered, including additional return ticket + luggage allowance
- Provision of medical, life, and repatriation insurance + retirement package
How to apply:
Please send, in English, your cover letter, CV, and three references to jobs@acted.orgRef : REACH/JOR/SA
